RENPHO Body Fat Scale: Normal Mode or Athlete Mode, Which Is Right for You?

Article last updated June 30, 2023

If you already own a RENPHO Smart Scale, you will remember needing to provide your height, weight, age, and gender at the beginning in order to customize the calculation of 13 body composition indexes to your body type. However, there is also a less well-known feature called Athlete Mode that factors in whether you live a highly active lifestyle.

The RENPHO Smart Scale offers two modes: Normal Mode and Athlete Mode. Let's delve into each mode to understand their unique characteristics and how they cater to different individuals.

What is Normal Mode?

Normal mode is designed for individuals who have a moderate activity level and do not engage in intense workouts on a daily basis. For example, Sarah is a young office worker who enjoys spending time with her friends and family. She cares about her health, so in her free time, she likes to perform light exercises such as brisk walking, jogging around the park, recreational sports, and moderate strength training at the gym. 

This mode is specifically designed to meet the needs of individuals like Sarah, who enjoy a regular exercise routine but are not professional athletes or fitness enthusiasts. Normal Mode is able to estimate the average body composition for this group by calculating metrics based on general population data.

What is Athlete Mode?

On the other hand, Derrick is a sports enthusiast who trains rigorously to perform at his best on the basketball court. He also enjoys running and regularly hits the gym to build muscle. This makes Athlete Mode perfect for capturing a more accurate depiction of his body composition measurements relative to his active lifestyle. Athlete Mode does this by informing the scale to lower fat mass measurements and increase muscle mass measurement values to match the characteristic lifestyle and body composition of an athlete like Derrick.

Determining the Right Mode for You

Now that you understand the distinction between Normal Mode and Athlete mode, let’s explore several factors to consider when determining which mode is the best fit for you:

Body Composition Analysis: Consider your current body fat percentage and muscle mass. If you have a lower body fat percentage and higher muscle mass due to regular exercise, Athlete mode might be more accurate for you.

Activity Levels: Evaluate the intensity and frequency of your workouts. If you engage in intense training sessions 2-6 times a week consistently, Athlete mode could provide more precise measurements.  

Fitness Goals: Reflect on your fitness objectives. If you’re training for a specific athlete event or working towards achieving optimal performance, Athlete mode offers more relevant data.

To achieve optimal results consider the following tips:

• Ensure your scale is on a hard, flat surface for accurate measurements.
• Step onto the scale barefoot for improved conductivity.
• Use the scale at a consistent time of day to maintain consistency in measurements.

Benefits of Using the Correct Mode

Using the appropriate mode on your RENPHO Smart Scale can yield several benefits:

Accurate Measurements: Obtain precise readings of your body fat percentage, muscle mass, visceral fat, and other important metrics by selecting the correct mode.

Personalized Insights and Recommendations: The RENPHO Health App provides personalized recommendations based on your body composition analysis, helping you make informed decisions about your diet and exercise routines.

Tracking Progress Effectively: With accurate measurements, you can track your progress more effectively and make adjustments to your fitness regimen as needed.

Who Should Use Athlete Mode?

This mode is only recommended for users who fit the following requirements:

Athlete Mode is recommended for individuals who are 18 years or older. This age requirement ensures that the body has reached a level of physical maturity necessary for intense exercise and allows for accurate body composition analysis.

Athlete Mode is most suitable for individuals who engage in a high volume of intense aerobic exercise on a weekly basis. This includes activities such as running, cycling, swimming, HIIT (high-intensity interval training), and other similar exercises. The minimum threshold of 6 hours ensures that the body is subjected to a significant amount of physical stress, which may lead to different body composition characteristics.

A resting heart rate below 60 beats per minute is often an indication of a well-conditioned cardiovascular system. This requirement reflects the fact that individuals with lower resting heart rates typically have a higher level of fitness. Since Athlete Mode is tailored for active individuals, a lower resting heart rate suggests a higher likelihood of having a body composition that differs from the average population.

The Significance of Athlete Mode

Athlete Mode provides a more accurate assessment of body composition for individuals who meet the aforementioned requirements. It takes into account the unique physiological changes that occur due to intense exercise and provides a more precise estimation of factors such as body fat percentage, muscle mass, and hydration levels.

During intense exercise, the body undergoes various adaptations, including increased muscle mass, enhanced cardiovascular efficiency, and altered hydration levels. These adaptations can lead to deviations in body composition compared to individuals who are less physically active, Athlete Mode adjusts the calculations on the RENPHO Smart Scale to accommodate these differences, providing a more tailored and accurate analysis.

Can a ‘Regular’ Person Use Athlete Mode?

We don’t recommend using Athlete Mode unless you meet the above requirements. Don’t worry, enabling Athlete Mode does not modify the RENPHO Health App experience in any way, so you won’t miss out.

In fact, the default body composition calculation model encapsulates a broad spectrum of lifestyles and fitness levels (i.e. dieters, weight losers/gainers, fitizens) already. Athlete Mode is only intended for a small number of users.

Can I use Athlete Mode Even If I’m not a Professional Athlete?

Absolutely! Athlete Mode is not limited to professional athletes. While it may be called “Athlete Mode,” it is actually suitable for individuals who participate in a high activity level or engage in intense workouts regularly. 

The choice between normal mode and athlete mode on the RENPHO Smart Scale depends on your level of physical activity and exercise routine. 

Will It Drive Me to Lose Weight Faster?

The short answer is no.

Just like inputting the incorrect height, weight, age, and gender; if you select Athlete Mode incorrectly, the 13 body composition indexes will simply misrepresent what’s generally going on within your body.

This is because Athlete Mode is intended to recalibrate body composition calculations to reflect your athletic body type. A non-athlete would be receiving inaccurate body assessments.

Can It Be Turned On and Off?

Athlete Mode can be enabled from your profile settings. When you turn Athlete Mode on or off and save the setting successfully, the new body composition calculation will count toward your new weighing. Please note that the status will only be applied for new measurements.

If you would like to find out how to enable Athlete Mode, check out our previous article, What is RENPHO Athlete Mode? Should You Turn It On?, which dives into more details not covered here.

Is a Change in Muscle Mass and Body Fat Day to Day Accurate?

Regardless of the mode you choose, the changes in your data should not fluctuate wildly on a daily basis, but there may be incremental percentage shifts between your measurements based on the time of weighing and other external factors.

Factors that can affect your daily measurements include:

To minimize the impact of these factors, it is recommended to establish a consistent routine for measurements. For example, weigh yourself at the same time of day, under similar conditions, such as before breakfast or after waking up and using the bathroom. This can help create a more reliable baseline and track trends over time rather than focusing solely on daily fluctuations.

Conclusion

Choosing the right mode on your RENPHO Smart Scale is crucial for obtaining accurate and meaningful body composition measurements. Whether you opt for Normal Mode or Athlete Mode, both can provide valuable insights into your fitness journey. Consider your activity level, body composition, and fitness goals to make informed decisions. Unlock personalized data and recommendations and achieve your health and fitness goals by utilizing the correct RENPHO Mode.

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